Baton Rouge Police Department
K-9 Division Honored by AKC
The Baton Rouge Police Department K-9 Division has been recognized by the American Kennel Club AKC) with a 2007 Award for Canine Excellence (ACE). The unit was honored for their work in the year following Hurricane
Katrina.
The K-9 team of nine German Shepherds and one Belgian Malinois faced the post Katrina situation in Baton Rouge with the professionalism and determination expected from any police officer. Working during the hottest,
muggiest time of the year following Katrina, with extended shifts and no days off, the K-9s worked just as hard as their fellow officers.
In the following year, 2006, as the city adjusted to its newer, larger population, they dealt with an increased workload, responding to 3,740 calls, recovering 47 stolen vehicles and making 318 arrests.
"Usually only an individual dog is honored with the ACE, however in this unique situation we could not bring ourselves to single out only one hero, and therefore were inspired to bestow the award upon this entire team
of dogs," said Ronald Rella, AKC Director of Project Administration and member of the judging panel.
The AKC will present the BRPD K-9 unit with engraved silver collar medallions and a $1,000 cash award at a presentation ceremony at the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship in Long Beach, California, on December 1-2,
2007.
The unit has requested, however, that the award money be donated to the St. Jude's Children Research Hospital in Memphis in honor of a fellow K-9 handler's daughter who was a patient there (Lt. Jay Sullivan, Zachary
Police Department and his daughter Chelsea).
Prior to Chelsea’s death at age 9 in 2001, she named Cpl. Bryan Taylor's K-9. The name that she picked, ironically, was Ace. Sadly, Ace also passed away in November of last year. |
